Mary Louise Duren Holt

She was born March 6, 1920, in Napa, California, to Olaf Ellison Duren and Louise Mae Purkey.

A sister, Martha, also born in Napa, died at a very young age before the family moved to Texas and settled in the Killgore area. Her father, Olaf, was a car salesman and dealer most of Mary's younger years. The family loved horses and the frequent afternoon ride.

Mary transferred from Killgore Junior Colege to Baylor and completed studies in music prior to beginning her marriage to James Pittman Holt, Sr., in 1944.

She was an accomplished vocalist and loved "a capella" singing at Baylor under the direction of "Pop" Hopkins. She also sang solos at churches, sometimes accompanied by the mother of Van Cliburn, her only claim to fame.

She has two sons: James Holt, Jr., born in Longview, Texas and now retired from teaching and caretaking in San Antonio, and Mark Duren Holt, born in Houston, but currently living and working in Little Rock, Arkansas, having grown children, Carmen and Matthew.

After living ten years in Houston, Mary's family moved to San Antonio where both she and her husband taught school, she teaching music at Ft. Sam Houston Elementary School for 26 years, and he teaching history at Lowell Junior School for SAISD prior to passing in 1996, after 50-plus years marriage.

Mary lived the last 11 years with her son, James, who also retired from teaching and was fortunate to be her caretaker for several years.

Extended family members include the Holt family in Denton, Texas, and the Irish family in Owasso Tulsa, Oklahoma, all relatives of Mary's husband, James Sr.

Special thanks go to friends of Trinity Baptist Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, caring neighbors, and the Vitas Hospice caretakers who made comfort a matter of priority.

Mary will be remembered for her strength, simple elegance, quick and unusual wit, and consistency in raising her family and respecting her Maker.